‘Sayonara GSM’: Jamie Malonzo jumps from PBA to Japan B. League

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

And the exodus continues.

In a shocking turn of events, Jamie Malonzo, one of the most athletic forwards in the PBA, will no longer lace the white and red jersey of the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel after transferring to the Japan B. League, announced on July 31, 2025.

The high-flying swingman just joined the Kyoto Hannaryz basketball club, and the team made it official after welcoming Malonzo in a social media post.

Malonzo spent the last four years of his professional basketball career in the PBA after getting selected by the NorthPort Batang Pier during the 2020 Rookie Draft ceremony.

After a stellar outing with the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers, the former second overall pick dazzled in the big boys’ league and was always the leading feature during the PBA’s highlight reel compilation.

He would then reach his peak when he was acquired by the Gin Kings in 2022, a move that helped him bag his first-ever PBA championship title during the 2022-2023 Commissioner’s Cup.

He was a two-time PBA All-Star and was a former member of the Mythical First Team in 2023. Before departing Ginebra, Malonzo put up huge offensive numbers in the semifinals but his scoring prowess wasn’t enough to contain the surging San Miguel Beermen.

Malonzo capped off the PBA Philippine Cup with a consistent showing after averaging 13.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in the regular season.

As of now, Malonzo is currently with the Gilas Pilipinas men’s national basketball team as he was selected as part of the final pool for the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

With Malonzo now out of Ginebra, head coach Tim Cone will have to rely on the duo of Jeremiah Gray and Stephen Holt to fill the wings.

Aljon Mariano, one of the team’s veteran small forwards, is also expected to deliver, as well as Troy Rosario who can play the three and the four spot for the Gin Kings.